[8] Dahlkemper identifies as "pro-life",[9] and was the "Hall of Fame" Award recipient at the 2009 Conference of Democrats for Life of America, an anti-abortion advocacy group.

[10] She supported the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, an anti-abortion amendment to America's Affordable Health Care Act of 2009 (HR 3962), but later voted in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act after President Obama issued an executive order that barred the use of federal funds for abortions.

During the campaign, she attacked English for breaking his original promise to only serve six terms in Congress, and also tied him to the Bush administration.

In March 2013, Dahlkemper announced her candidacy for Erie County executive, challenging incumbent Democrat Barry Grossman.

[13] In the November general election, Dahlkemper defeated Republican nominee Don Tucci, winning 57% of the vote.

[15] Dahlkemper married her first husband while in college; they divorced when the marriage became abusive, and she raised her son as a single mother on food stamp assistance.